Interstitial Lung Disease (cont.)
What are the symptoms of interstitial lung disease?
Decreased lung function is the result of the inflammation present in the
supporting interstitial tissues, which leads to scarring and thickening. This is
because the thickened and stiff tissues cannot breathe as effectively as healthy
lung tissue. Symptoms, therefore, are related to the reduced efficiency of
breathing and corresponding reduced levels of oxygen in the blood.
The symptoms depend to a certain extent upon the exact
cause of the condition, but shortness of breath and a dry cough are the most common symptoms.
In most cases, these symptoms develop gradually. Signs of chronically reduced
oxygen levels in the blood include clubbing (a painless enlargement of the
fingertips) and an enlarged heart.
Interstitial lung disease can lead to serious long-term complications.
Pulmonary hypertension,
a type of high blood pressure that affects the arteries within the lungs, may
develop. Ultimately, right-sided (the side of the heart that pumps blood back to
the lungs to receive oxygen) heart failure may result (known as cor pulmonale). Respiratory failure is a potentially fatal long-term
complication of interstitial lung disease.
How is interstitial lung disease diagnosed?
Interstitial lung disease cannot be diagnosed simply on the basis of a
medical history and physical examination. In most cases, a number of diagnostic
tests must be used. The symptoms of interstitial lung disease overlap with those
of many other conditions, including cardiovascular diseases.
- Blood tests may help provide direction in the initial
stage of diagnosis
and rule out other conditions that may have similar symptoms.
Measurement of the
oxygen level in the arterial blood may also be performed.
- Imaging studies, such as chest X-rays and
CT scans are often the first
diagnostic step and may also help rule out other conditions that may cause
similar symptoms.
- Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are noninvasive tests that measure the
function of the lungs. The test involves blowing into a tube that is part of an
instrument called a spirometer. This can measure the volume of the lungs as well
as the air flow into and out of the lungs.
- Biopsies or washings may be taken of the lungs and
airways during bronchoscopy (examination of the airways with a viewing tube). The removed
tissue samples are then examined by a
pathologist to establish the diagnosis. In
certain cases, open surgical biopsy of the lung may be required to obtain an
adequate tissue sample for diagnosis.
Next: How is interstitial lung disease treated? »
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